Ignition  device



Aug. 23, 1932- H. L. HARTZELL IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 25, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qwupntoz I Aug. 23, 1932. V H. HARTZELL 1,873,123

IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 23, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7. Zlwumatoz Z. ##FTZFLL Augi- 1932- H. HARTZELL 1,873,123

IGNITION DEVICE Filed May 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 23, 1932- H. L. HARTZELL IGNITION DEVICE- Filed May 25, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 u E m m L M M m H Patented Aug. 23, 1932 units stars rarer EQE HERMAN L. HALBTZ ELL, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNQR TO DELCO-REMY OORIPO- RATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAYTARE IGNITION DEVICE Application filed May 23, 1930. Serial No. 455,083;

This invention relates to improvements in ignition devices for multicylinder internal combustion engines. V

It is among the objects of the present inventionto provide an ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine capable of providing sparking impulses to two spark plugs in each cylinder substantially simultaneously and at comparatively high engine speeds.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ignition devicewith circuit interrupters so constructed and arranged as to substantially eliminate vacillatory movement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ignition device with a plurality of circuit interrupters each adapted alternately to control a plurality of ignition coils sub stantially simultaneously for providing plural sparking impulses for each engine cylinder in proper order and sequence.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compact ignition device for providing plural sparking impulses, substantially simultaneously, in each cylinder .of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine at the proper time and recurrent sequence.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a pre ferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ignition device with the distributor cap removed to expose the interrupter mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ignition device taken substantially along the line 22 of the Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the structure of the stationary contact member of a circuit interrupter.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the ignition device, broken away to show; the circuit interrupter mechanism in siderelevation..

F ig. 5 is an enlarged, detail plan View of circuit interrupter. H l Fig. .6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-67-of Fig. 5. V 1

Fig.7 is a fragmentary detail viewtaken substantially along the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the base and certain of the plates supported thereon.

Fig. 9 isa detail side elevation on an enlarged scale, of the stationary contact member of a circuit interrupter.

Fig. 10 is a view of Fig. 9 in the direction of the arrow 10.

Figs. 11 and 12 are fiat and sectional views respectively of a spring washer which forms a part of the stationary contact Qmember.

u *igs. 13and 141 are views of the contact lever.' g Fig. 15 isa section taken along line 15 15 of Fig. 13.

" Fig. 16 is a section taken along line 16- 16 of Fig. 14. I v i Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections between various elements of the device. I

Fig. 18 is a. diagrammatic'view illustratingthe comparative time of the cyclesof operation of the two circuit interrupters.

Referring to the drawings, the ignition device is shown comprisingahousing 20, provided with a shank portion21 by which the ignition device is attached to theengine, not shown. 7 The shank portion'21 provides abearing in which'is journalled the drive shaft 22. The drive. shaft 22 has a disc 23 provided thereon within the casing, said disc supporting the centrifugal spark adjusting means'24. A shaft 25 is supported by the drive shaft 22 so as tobe rotatable relative thereto, said shaft 25 being connectedwith' said drive shaft 22 through the centrifugal adjusting means 24:. Shaft 25 provides the cam 26 which, in this instance, has four lobes. The portion of the shaft 25 designated by the numeral 27 which extends above the cam 26, supports the rotor 28, said rotor beingmade of insulating material Rotor 28 has oppo- V sitely disposed conducting'plates 29 and 30. Conducting plate 29 is in electrical-engagementwith the sleeve 31 carried by the rotor,

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. 33. The housing 20 has a cap 35 of any suitable insulating material, which is secured to the housing by clamping hooks 36 hingedly attached to the housing. Cover cap 35, which may be termed the distributor cap, is provided with a plurality of terminals. One of these terminals is designated by the numeral 37, this terminal being centrally arranged onthe distributor cap. 1' Terminal 37 is recessed at each end, the inner recess containing a spring pressed plunger 38 which is .yieldably urged into electrical engagement with the conductor 30 supported by the rotor. The recess 39. in the outer end of the terminal '37 receives a conductor'wire .leading from 'the secondary wlnding of an. ignition coil.

A sleeve-like extension 40 on thedistributor cap properly insulates the terminal 39 from the adjacent high tension terminal 41 which has an exposed end within the distributor cap, said exposed end being in electrical engagement with the circular track 42 supported within the distributor cap. The circular track 42 is yieldingly engaged by the springpressed plunger 32 carried by the rotor 28 and in electrical engagement with the conductor 29. .Arecess 42a in the terminal 41' receives the conductor'wire leading from the secondarywindingjof another ignition coil. 7 Like terminal 37, this terminal 41. is surrounded by a sleevelike extension 43 provided hy-the distributor cap. As shownin the-Fig. 17, the distributor cap has a plurality of terminals 45 arranged ina circular row substantially concentric of the spring-pressed plunger 38 carried by the distributor cap. These terminals are all adapted to be connected with proper spark plugs'in the various cylinders of theengine; Terminals 45 each comprise a recessed conducting sleeve 46 havinga ost portion 47 extending into the interior of the distributor cap. These post portions 47 lie injuxtaposition to the circular path in which the conductors 29 and 30. of the rotor travelso thatthe high tension current, or sparking impulse directed to the conductor37 is conveyed through plunger 38 into conductor 30 and thence to the proper post portion 47 of the terminal 45, while the sparking impulse directed into the terminal 41 is conducted through the track42, spring-pressed plunger 32,=and through conductor 29 to the proper post portion147 of another terminal 45. I

Thezpresent ignition device is adapted to provide twosparking impulses for each engine cylinder substantially simultaneously; therefore'the rotor 28isformed as shown in dotted lines in the Fig..17 vwhereby conductor 29 delivers a sparking impulse to theterminal 45v connected with a spark plug of one cylinder, while the conductor 30 delivers a sparking impulse to another ofv the termina1s45 which isconnected'with another spark there is provided a I the Fig. 8, has an angular fulcrum member I 52 forming a, fulcrum having a knife-shaped edge53. As shown in the Fig. 6, this knife shaped'edge 53, of the fulcrum is recessed as at 54, providing two spaced pivot portions 52a and 525 on the fulcrum member 5211 01 purposes to be d'escribedu A plate 55 is pivot'ally secured to theibase 50by a rivet 56,. Plate 55 has an elongated slot 57, thelonger sides 57a of which are sub stantially concentric of the -,rivet 56. This slot 57, receives the shank portion ofa screw 58, which shank portion screw-threadedly engages an opening in the base 50. {Screw 58 may be operated tightly to'clamp theplate 55 to the base 50. Another elongated slot59 isprovided in the plate 55, the longersides of this slot being substantially radial ,ofthe. rivet.56, This slot 59 receives the slotted head 600i? the adjusting-member, said slotted 7 head 60 having an eccentric shankgportionfil rotatably attached to the base 50.. By lo0sening screw 58 and operating the slottedlhead 60, plate 55 may be moved 'rotatably about its pivot 56 in a direction substantially radial; Y

of the central opening in the base 50. Plate 55has an angular extension 62 to which is secured, by a bolt63, one end of a spring blade 64. This spring blade as shown in the Fig. 5 is fashioned in the form of a horseshoe and has a V-shaped formation 65 adjacent to, but spaced from, the free end thereof. This V-' shaped formation 65 comprises two spaced: depressions having an intermediate portion. in the shape of a hump or bulge, designated by the numeral 66. The two spaced depressions, as shown in the Figs. 5, 6 and 7, fit upon the spaced portions 52a and 52b ofthe knife-edge 53 of the fulcrum member 52, While the hump or bulge 66 extends into the recess 54 in the knife-edge 53 offulcrum member 52, so that by this construction the spring blade 64 pivotally engages the fulcrum member 52. The bulge or hump 66 of the spring-blade inentering the recess 54 of the mentof the spring blade relative to its fulcrum.

As shown in the Figs. 5, 6 and'7 in particular, thefree end of the spring blade 64-beof the bracket.

yond the pivotal engagement point, has the breaker lever 70 attached thereto by rivets 71. The breaker lever has a recess receiving the V-shaped formation on the spring blade so that virtually the lever is pivotally supported by the fulcrum 52, the spring blade 64 actually contacting with the fulcrum, because the blade 64 is made. of spring steel, more capable of resisting wear than the lever 70, which is preferably made of very light material and not as well adapted to resist the wear. As shown in the Figs. 13 and 14,.the lever 7 0 has a bifurcated end, providing two branches 72 and 73 each of which has a contact 'member attached thereto. These contacts are designated by the numerals 74 and 7 5 respectively. The lever 70 has a wearpiece 70a secured to it by a rivet7 6, said wearpiece-being urged into engagement with the cam 26 by the blade-spring 64.

' Upon the plate 55 there is carried a bracket 80, which is secured to said plate by screws 81. This bracket is clearly illustrated in the Figs. 5, 9 and 10 and is shown as having two spaced and substantially parallel angular ears 82 and'83 respectively. A pin 84 is supported between the angular ears 82 and .83 This pin is clearly shown in the Fig. 3. A block of insulating material designated by the numeral 85, is pivotally supported between the angular ears 82 and 83 upon the pin 84. This block of insulating material has a recess 86 offset from the channel through said block which receives the pin 84, recess '86 receiving a spring member 87 so shaped that the intermediate portion engages the bottom surface of the recess 86 in the block while the ends of said spring engage the pivot pin 84 so that said spring yieldably resists pivotal movement upon the pin 84, and also takes up any clearance between the pin 84 and the channel in the block 85. Block carries spaced contacts 88 and 89 respectively, said contacts being adapted to be engaged by the contacts 7 4 and 7 5 respectively carried by the lever 70. Contacts 88 and 89 have ends extending from the block 85 which are recessed as at 90 and 91 respectively, recess 90 receiving a conductor 92, while'recess 91 receives the conductor 93; Conductor 92 leading to the con tact member 88, is in electrical connection with a terminal post 94 insulatingly carried by the housing 20, while conductor 93 leading from the contact member 89 is'electrically connected with the terminal 95 insulatingly supported by the housing 20. Pivotally supporting the contacts 88 and 89 by their block 85 permits automatic alignment of these contacts through engagement by spaced contacts on lever 70 so that the cam operating the lever 70 may substantially, simultaneously move the lever contacts 7 4 and 7 5 out of engagement with these cooperating, contacts 88 and 89 respectively. A spring washer 96 surroundsthe pin 84 and is interposed be. tween the block 85 and the angularear 83 of the bracket 80 so that 'endwise movement yieldably resisting the rotation of the block.

85 upon the-pin 84. The other interrupter of the ignitionde- Vice differs from the afore-described inter rupter as follows:

A fulcrum plate 100 has, as is shown in Fig. 2, a central opening, the edges of the plateat this central opening being flared to provide an annular flange 101 which is adapted to fit into the central opening of the base 50 whereby the fulcrum plate 100 maybe moved pivotally about the central opening in the base 50., Plate 100 has two elongated slots 102, the longer sides of which are substantially 1 concentric of thecentral opening in the plate or of the cam shaft 26. Clamping screws 103 have shank portions extending through these slots 102 and thread. edly engaging the base 50. An adjusting member 104 eccentrically supported by the base 50 fits into a recess 106m the plate 100, said member 104 when rotated after screws 103 are released, pivotally moving plate 100 about the centralannular flangelOl thereon. V This adjustment moves the fulcrum 107, n

which is provided by an angular portion on plate 100, rotatably. to. vary the angular relation between-the two fulcrums52 and107. Fulcrum 107 is constructedsimilar to the fulcrum 52, thatis, it, has the recess comparing to recess 54 which provides pivoted edges on the fulcrum.

spaced On plate 100 an interrupter plate 110 is adjustably secured. This plate 110 is similar.

to the plate 55 of the correspondingcircuit interrupter and is secured by a rivet 111 to the plate-100. A clamping screw 112 has its shank extending through an elongated slot 113 in plate 110, substantially concentric of the rivet 111,, sa'id clamping screw having its shank portion engagingthe plate 100. An adjusting member 114 corresponding to the adjusting member 60 of the corresponding interrupter fits into the elongated slot 115 in the plate 110 and is secured eccentrically to the plate 100. Operation of the member 114 will move-the plate'110 about its pivot 111 substantially radial of the cam shaft 26.

The platej 110 has an angular portion .6

similar to the angular portion 62 of plate 55. One end of blade spring 121 is attached to the angular portion 120, said blade spring 121 having a formation, similar tothe formation 65 of the spring 64, whereby spring 121 is pivotally secured-to the-fulcrum 10?. vContact lever 119 is secured to the free end of spring 121'and the'weanpiece 123 of said contact lever is yieldably. urged by said spring intoengagement with the cam 26.

Contact lever 119 carries two contacts. 12.4

. 94and 95.-

and 125 which are adapted to cooperate with contacts 126 and 127 respectively supported by an insulating block 128 which is constructed like and mountedion a bracket 129 in a manner similar to the corresponding contacts of the other circuit interrupter. In-

asmuch as these structures are exactly alike.

and have previously been described in connection with the circuit interrupter including contacts 747 5 and 88-89, no further detailed description will be given.

Contact 126 is connected with the housing terminal 94 by the conductor 130, while the Referringparticularly to the Figs. 17 and 18, it may be seen that at no timedo both of the circuit interrupterscomplete their circuits. In Fig. 18 the time of circuit closing of both interrupters is clearly shown. The inner circle designates the operation of the circuit interrupter including lever '70. The

letter M designates the point in the cycle at which the circuit is made by the interrupter.

The letter B designates the time in the cycle at which the circuit is broken by the interrupterJ The extra heavy line indicates the time during which the circuit is closed by this particular interrupter. Thelighter line between B and M indicates the interval at which the circuit is broken. The same indications in the outer circle designate the operation of the circuit interrupter including the lever 125, that is the heavy lines indicate the closing periods, while thespaces between -B and M, or the lighter lines, indicate the open period of the circuit. It will be noted in this diagram that at no time are the two circuits simultaneously closed, but on the contrary the one circuit designated by the in-v ner circle, is closed sometime during the open period oftheother circuit designated by the outer circle; j

This ignition device uses two'ignition coils, the primary circuit of one being designated by" the numeral 150, the other by the numeral 151. The secondary circuits of these two coils are designated by the numerals 152 and 153 respectively. One end of theprimary wind ing 150 is connected with the housing terminal 95, while the other end is connected with a source of current, shown in the form of a storage battery 154, by a switch 155. The other primary winding 151, isconnec'ted with the terminal 94 on the'housing and also with one side of the switch 155 leading to the bat-' tery 154. 'The higlitension winding 152 is connectedthrough wire 156 with-the high tension terminal 41 of the distributor head, and the high tensionwinding 153 is connected through wire 157 with the high tension terminalY39 of thedistributor head. In the diagram the-cam 26 is shown operating the lever at the beginning of its break while it is still maintaining the lever 125 so that its circuit is opened. Continued rotation of the cam 26 in the direction of the arrow shown-in Fig.

17 will eventually operate lever 119 so that its contacts 124 and 125 wiil engage their contacts 126 and 127, this circuit closing by lever 125 occurring while lever 70 is still being maintained in its circuit breaking position. lVhen the contacts 124 126 and 125127 engage, the battery will dischargethrough primary winding 151 across contacts 126- 124 to ground, and also through'the primary winding 150 across 127125 to ground, for winding 150 is connected with contact 127 through wire 131, thus-both primary windings 1501 51 will be energized during this contact-engagement. As'soon as the cam opcrates the .arm 119 tolbreak' engagement of the contacts 124 and-125 with their respective cooperating contacts 126127, sparking impulseswill be provided by both ignitioncoils substantially simultaneously, the impulse from the secondary winding 152 beingdelivered to the terminal 41 of the distributor head and from there through the plunger 32. to the conductor 29 of the rotor while the sparking impulse from the high tension winding 158 will be directed through wire 157 to the central high tension terminal '39 of the dis-- tributor cap or head and thence through the plunger 38 to the rotor conductor 30. These sparking impulses will then be directed to their proper spark plugs in the one cylinder 7 bly movement thereof is practically eliini nated, the construction. thereof permi ting comparatively high speed operation without the usual fluctuation in the movement thereof. By this construction applicant hasprovided an ignition device of simple structure and design, compact and efiicient, for providing sparking impulses to two spark plugs of the engine cylinder of an engine substantially simultaneously.

NVhile the form of embodiment of the present inventionas herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understoodthat other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is as follows:

combination, a plurality of ignition coils each having primary and secondary Wmdings; a plurality of distributing devices; 01rcuit breakers each controlling all of the primary circuits of all of the coils substantially prising, in combination, ignition coils each providing a sparking impulse for one spark plug in the respective cylinders; distributing devices for directing the sparking impulses to the spark plugs in the respective cylinders in proper sequence; circuit interrupters each controlling all of the ignition coils substantially simultaneously; and an engine driven cam foroperating said circuit interrupters alternately.

3. An ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a plurality of spark plugs in each cylinder, comprising, in combination, ignition coils each providing a sparking impulse for one spark plug in the respective cylinders; distributing devices for directing the sparking impulses to the spark plugs in the respective cylinders in proper sequence; circuit interrupters each controlling all of the ignition coils substantially simultaneously; and an engine driven cam for operating said circuit interrupters alternately to render one ineffective to control any of the ignition coils while the other interrupter is being operated to control all of the ignition coils.

4. An ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a plurality of spark plugs in each cylinder, comprising, in combination, a source of electrical energy; ignition coils each adapted to provide sparking impulses to one spark plug in the respective cylinders; distributing devices for directing the sparking impulses of the ignition coils to the spark plugs of the various cylinders in proper sequence; circuit controlling devices each adapted substanignition coils from the source of electrical energy; and an engine driven cam for operating said circuit controlling devices alternately and in recurrent sequence.

5. An ignition device for a inulti-cylinder internal combustion engine having a plurality of spark plugs in each cylinder, comprising, in combination, a source of electrical energy; ignition coils each adapted to pro vide sparking impulses to one spark plug in the respective cylinders; distributing de- 1. An ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion 'engme comprising, in

tially simultaneously to disconnect all of the vices for directing the sparking impulses of V the ignition coils to the spark plugs of the that one of them connects and disconnects:

the source of electrical energy and all of the ignition coils while the other of said devices is maintainedin circuit open position.

6. An ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion. engine comprising, in combination, two circuit interrupters each comprising a pivoted lever carrying two con: tacts and two stationary contacts adapted to be engaged by the contacts on the lever; an engine driven cam for operating said levers so that the contacts on one lever engage and disengage their cooperatingv stationary contacts while the other lever is operated to maintain its contacts out of engagement with their cooperating contacts; an ignition coil connected to one of the stationary contacts of each circuit interrupter; another ignition coil connected to the other stationarycontacts of the circuit interrupters respectively; and distributing devices for directing the sparking impulses of the two ignition coils to the proper engine cylinder.

7. An ignition device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, two circuit interrupters each comprising cooperating movable and stationary contacts; an engine driven cam for 0-perating said movable contacts so that they engage their cooperating stationary contact during lesser degrees of cam rotation than for which they are separated from said contacts, said cam closing and opening one circuit interrupter only during the open period of the other; two ignition coils each connected to one stationary contact of the respective interrupters; and distributing devices for directin g the sparking impulses of the ignition coils to the proper cylinder.

In testimony whereof I hereto aifix my signature.

HERMAN L. HARTZELL. 

